Mysterious Janus: Unveiling the Enigma of a Two-Faced Dying Star
Scientists have discovered a peculiar white dwarf star, nicknamed "Janus," that has two different elements, hydrogen and helium, on either side of its orb-like surface. This is the first time such a stark separation of elements has been observed on a white dwarf. The researchers believe that Janus may have been caught during a convection phase where the elements started to mix together, and asymmetric magnetic fields could be responsible for the uneven distribution of elements. This discovery could shed light on the spectral evolution of white dwarfs and challenge our understanding of white dwarf atmospheres.